Kohala Lighthouse Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, this is Rusty. Let’s talk about the surf outlook for Kohala Lighthouse.

Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with you: this is a rough stretch. We’re looking at a solid 16-day window, but for the most part, the conditions are going to be a real battle. The wind is almost always coming from the east-northeast, and it’s blowing cross or cross-onshore, chopping everything up. The water temperature is sitting at 80°, which is about average for this time of year, so at least you won’t be cold while you’re getting frustrated.

The first real chance of anything decent kicks off on the morning of Monday, July 28th. We’ve got a solid 8ft swell pushing in from the east-northeast, with a period of 12 seconds – that’s a proper groundswell with some punch. The combined energy is strong at 2291. The wind is light and onshore, but it’s still onshore. It’s a marginal call, but there’s potential if the tide lines up. This is a heavy, advanced reef, and with that size, it’s only for experts. The swell direction is east-northeast, which is a bit off the optimum north, so it might not be as perfect as it could be.

After that, it’s a long, grim slog. From Tuesday the 29th right through to the 10th of August, the wind stays cross or cross-onshore, often fresh to strong, and the surf quality is rated poor. The swell sticks around, mostly between 5ft and 8ft, but the wind just ruins it. The period drops to short, choppy stuff, and the energy is moderate to strong (656 to 860 in the brackets), but it’s just messy.

The one standout, and I mean the *only* one that gives me a bit of hope, is the morning of Monday, August 11th. The wind finally looks like it might go cross-offshore, light from the east-southeast. The swell is small at 5ft from the east-northeast, with a short period of 6 seconds, so it’s weak energy (191). But the conditions are described as “clean”. For this spot, after all that chop, clean is a beautiful word. It’s not a standout for size or power, but for the *quality* of the wave face, it’s the best we’ve got. It’s a true beginner-friendly size, which is a rare treat here.

So, the honest truth? If you’re an expert looking for a beating, the 28th of July might give you something. For everyone else, wait for that Monday morning on the 11th of August. The rest of the window is a write-off for paddle surfing. With that consistent cross-shore wind and solid swell, this setup frankly looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing.

Stay patient.

Rusty.

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